FCC Upholds WIP/Philadelphia $4000 Wing Bowl Fine
The FCC has upheld a $4000 fine issued to WIP-AM/Philadelphia after the CBS Radio Sports/Talk outlet "failed to announce the material terms" of its annual Wing Bowl contest, as well as "failing to conduct the contest in accordance with its material terms." The NAL was issued in March, 2007, after WIP disqualified a contestant who had won a chance to compete in the contest but belonged to the AISE, a rival of the Wing Bowl.
In its respsonse, CBS said it had a right to exclude the contestant at its discretion. CBS also claimed WIP's conduct was only a "technical" violation that didn't deceive the public. However, the Commission ruled that the contest rules didn't state that members of other eating associations were ineligible.
On the subject of CBS's argument that there was only a technical violation, the agency said that WIP changed the material terms of its contest and disqualified a contestant after the fact, which "resulted in deceiving the public."
